Security Forces and Election Day Workers Vote Wednesday

All systems are now in place for special services electors, comprising the police, military and Election Day Workers, to register their votes for the March 26 Local Government Elections on Wednesday (March 21).

Under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, special services electors are required to vote at least three clear days (excluding Sunday and public holidays) before the general voting population, thus freeing them to perform their duties on Election Day.

The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), in a release today, advised that a total of 24,362 Election Day workers, 8, 277 police, and 2,079 members of the military are eligible to vote on Wednesday. Polling for these special electors, who wish to vote, will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at some 215 voting locations island-wide.

Speaking at a media briefing last Wednesday (March 14) at the ECJ’s Red Hills Road offices, Director of Elections, Orrette Fisher, said that the special electors, who wish to vote, must do so on March 21.

He cautioned that the directive is mandatory. “They will not be able to vote with the rest of the population on March 26 as their names have been separated from the civilian voters’ list,” he stated.

Mr. Fisher said Election Day Workers are being notified via telephone calls, text messages or Voters’ Guides of the date, location and polling stations where they will cast their votes.

These electors may also call the EOJ toll free helpline at 1-888-991-VOTE (8683) or visit www.ecj.com.jm to find out their voting locations.

The Local Government Elections, which will determine political representation in 228 divisions in the 63 constituencies island-wide, takes place just under three months after the General Elections of December 29, 2011.

The voters’ list for the election will comprise 1,648,020 registered voters, the same number that obtained on the November 30, 2011 voters’ list used in December.

Commissioner of Elections, Professor Errol Miller, has informed that some 6,630 polling stations have been secured, one less than for the General Elections, in 2,191 polling locations.

By Allan Brooks, JIS Senior Reporter